Sheila shocks pals with TV victory

A retired teacher and church volunteer beat the competition to be crowned the winner on ITV game show Tipping Point .

Sheila Handley, who lives in Buckingham invited 23 close friends and family to watch her on show which aired last Thursday.

But even thought it was filmed in April last year, Shelia had been sworn to secrecy and the gathered crowd did not find out that she had won the show and scooped a £3,000 prize until the afternoon event.

Sheila, who as a teacher worked at Akley Wood, Buckingham Primary, Great Horwood and Winslow Secondary schools during her career, said: “I was told that I had to keep abolsutely quiet about it and had to sign something that said I wouldn’t speak to the press or post about it on social media.

“Everyone cheered when I first appeared and said ‘I’m Sheila and I’m from Buckingham’ and they all booed when something went wrong, it was great fun and such a surprise for everyone when I won.”

And Sheila, who sadly had to use part of her prize money to pay for a repair to her car’s gearbox but also enjoyed a cruise with the winnings, said that after the positive experience of filming at Tipping Point’s Wembley studios, she is now looking to take part in another game show.

She said: “I’m thinking of The Chase, and there’s another one I saw called Alphabetical which is on Saturday mornings. I am going to see how to apply - I’ve deefintely got the bug now and would say to anyone give it a go.

“There was a lot of adreanline on the day and the whole process was very exciting. I have always been sporty and played hockey so I loved the challenge, and especially when I won.”

Tipping Point sees four contestants reduced down to one who competes for cash prize by doing a general knowledge test.

They also win goes on a giantcoin pusher arcade style machine to win tokens which add up to cash prizes.

And it wasn’t only the people in Sheila’s living room that day that have congratulated her on her success.

She said: “I cook the lunch at Buckingham Parish Church and quite a few of the ladies said “Oh I saw you on the television” one lady even said that her friend called her to tell her to turn it on.”